Full digitalisation of the application process
At the creative agency Studio.me2d.si we have completed a demanding, end-to-end digitalisation project for the Slovenian Museums Association (SMS). The aim was to do away entirely with outdated, time-consuming, paper-based administrative procedures and move the whole process of submitting and handling nominations for the SMS Awards into a modern digital environment. Instead of a classic website redesign, this time we developed a hybrid system that combines a web solution with purpose-built desktop software.
An online application system with a direct database connection
The first phase of the project involved developing an advanced, user-friendly online application form, placed on the organisation's official website. The form lets candidates quickly submit nominations for awards, diplomas and SMS section certificates without having to register first.
The form's key technical feature is that it's dynamic: the input fields adapt depending on whether it's an individual or a group application. On submission, the data is no longer sent through hard-to-track emails; instead it's written in structured form, in real time, straight into a secure SQL database in the background. This completely eliminates the risk of lost data or errors from manual copying.
A dedicated desktop application for centralised data processing
To review and administratively process incoming applications, we developed dedicated desktop software for the client (a custom desktop application). The application works as a central control panel that connects directly to the SQL database and gives administrators a complete overview of all submitted nominations in one place.
The software includes several advanced modules:
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Advanced filtering: Search and sort applications by any criteria, such as candidate name, home institution, awarding body, specific processing statuses or submission period.
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Statistics module: A graphical and numerical overview of how submissions develop across different seasons and categories.
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Quick data export: Instantly export the entire database or filtered data into structured Excel files with a single click, which makes the expert committee's job at the final assessment much easier.
The application has a modern user interface that supports both light and dark mode, and stays stable and fast even when processing a large number of extensive applications with attachments.
The outcome of Studio.me2d.si's work
With this project we created a closed, secure and highly efficient ecosystem for the Slovenian Museums Association. Successfully integrating the web interface, the SQL database and the desktop program has brought the client a drastic reduction in administrative workload, greater transparency and full control over their data. The project shows that, alongside web design, our agency can take on and successfully deliver more complex development challenges in custom software.
